Comments - Greed, Wealth, Anger and Envy - Atheist Nexus2017-08-18T05:46:34Zhttp://atheistnexus.org/profiles/comment/feed?attachedTo=2182797%3ABlogPost%3A1829995&xn_auth=no&gt; what about the half of t…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-01-21:2182797:Comment:18311752012-01-21T18:17:00.365ZLarry Martinhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AndrewWiggin
<p>&gt; what about the half of the population on the low side of the I.Q. bell curve?</p>
<p>They used to work as ditch diggers and street sweepers. Now we have machines for that stuff, or just leave it undone. Many of the remaining factory jobs require computer skills - to work the automation.</p>
<p>The challenge before us is to restructure our society so the losers don't get ground under, even as it becomes normal to lose. Riddle me that.</p>
<p>&gt; what about the half of the population on the low side of the I.Q. bell curve?</p>
<p>They used to work as ditch diggers and street sweepers. Now we have machines for that stuff, or just leave it undone. Many of the remaining factory jobs require computer skills - to work the automation.</p>
<p>The challenge before us is to restructure our society so the losers don't get ground under, even as it becomes normal to lose. Riddle me that.</p> Hi Ruth,Don't put words in my…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-01-21:2182797:Comment:18306882012-01-21T06:43:56.415ZAtheist Exilehttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/AtheistExile
<p>Hi Ruth,<br></br><br></br>Don't put words in my mouth, then pretend I said them. I never advocated "unrestrained" capitalism or a "corporations-over-people" system. How dare you! If you'll recall, I said that I have no problem punishing those who enjoy ill-gotten gains. As far as I'm concerned, just because competition in a free market is fierce, doesn't mean companies have to operate unethically. Most do not. Our laws should be rigorously enforced when business crosses the legal line and new laws…</p>
<p>Hi Ruth,<br/><br/>Don't put words in my mouth, then pretend I said them. I never advocated "unrestrained" capitalism or a "corporations-over-people" system. How dare you! If you'll recall, I said that I have no problem punishing those who enjoy ill-gotten gains. As far as I'm concerned, just because competition in a free market is fierce, doesn't mean companies have to operate unethically. Most do not. Our laws should be rigorously enforced when business crosses the legal line and new laws should anticipate and punish potentially unethical business practices.<br/><br/>My piece didn't go into free markets or corporate law (I'm not writing a book). But as long as you bring it up, they obviously need to operate ethically, legally, competitively AND profitably. It's not an easy thing to do . . . which is one of the reasons for the profit motive in the first place.<br/><br/>Everyone is entitled to their opinions. Simply stating you disagree explains your position but does nothing to flesh out your opinion. What alternative system do you suggest should replace capitalism? The U.S. does not have "unrestrained" capitalism. We have a large body of corporate law to check excessive greed and unethical practices.<br/><br/>But the law, alone, is not enough to keep all businesses honest. We, as consumers, hold the real power. We can put ANY U.S. company out of business (or at least force changes on them) in the U.S. if we collectively chose to boycott them. But we rarely succeed. The reason is the same as before: because we, as a whole, care more for ourselves than for others.</p> I disagree with your free mar…tag:atheistnexus.org,2012-01-20:2182797:Comment:18300892012-01-20T17:47:14.940ZRuth Anthony-Gardnerhttp://atheistnexus.org/profile/RuthAnthonyGardner
<p>I disagree with your free market approach. Capitalism, unrestrained, is not the best system to meet the needs of a burgeoning world population. Of course wealth, <em>per se</em>, isn't the problem, but neither is greed. Nor do I agree that our flawed corporations-over-people system can't be fixed.</p>
<p>I disagree with your free market approach. Capitalism, unrestrained, is not the best system to meet the needs of a burgeoning world population. Of course wealth, <em>per se</em>, isn't the problem, but neither is greed. Nor do I agree that our flawed corporations-over-people system can't be fixed.</p>